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Changing the Way I See God

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: To the unknown god. What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth,having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said,‘For we are indeed his offspring. Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” ACTS 17:22-31 ESV

God is closer than I think

…Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’… ACTS 17:27-28 ESV

The Presence of God is:

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord… PSALM 27:4 ESV

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! PSALM 105:4 ESV

… if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. 2 TIMOTHY 2:13 ESV

I will never leave you nor forsake you. HEBREWS 13:5 ESV

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. PSALM 34:18 NLT

God is different from what I think

…“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. ACTS 17:22-25 ESV

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. ISAIAH 55:8-9 NLT

Where could I be wrong in my thinking about God?

Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? MATTHEW 15:3 NLT

God is better than I think

And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. LUKE 18:18-19 ESV

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. ACTS 17:26-27 ESV

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and ato come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 TIMOTHY 2:3-4 ESV

We tend to see the goodness of God through our own personal experience, rather than through the personal experience of Jesus.

God has been crystal clear about what matters most

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. 1 CORINTHIANS 14:33 ESV

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” ACTS 17:30-31 ESV

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Take a few moments to still yourself from the pace of the day. Allow your thoughts to rest on God. How do you view him in this moment? Is it with joy? Gratitude? Perhaps confusion or disappointment? Be honest with him in this. Next, remember the promise that God is always with us, even in the difficult or mundane. As you consider this, ask God to reveal where you might be missing out on the reality of his presence in your life right now. Perhaps it might be beneficial to think back to a time in your life when you couldn’t see God’s hand in your life then, but as you look back, you do now. Finally, ask God to show you a challenge you are facing in your life right now in which you are doubting God’s goodness. Ask him to give you hope and reassurance that he is indeed with you even in these circumstances. Close your time by thanking God for his presence with you, sharing with the group about this experience, if you feel comfortable.

Discussion Questions

  1. PERSONAL REFLECTION: Begin group time engaging with the Personal Reflection Guide. As you explore your own journey with God’s presence, journal any reflections in the space below, sharing with the group what God brought up, if you feel comfortable.
  2. REAL WITH SELF: When is the last time you learned or experienced something about God that made you say “woah”?
  3. REAL WITH GOD: Read Hebrews‬ ‭13:5‬ (‭NLT‬‬): “For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” Are there areas in your life where you’ve felt abandoned or failed by God?
  4. REAL WITH GOD: As you have become more acquainted with God, what has been one of your greatest surprises about him?
  5. REAL WITH OTHERS: The presence of God is beautiful, powerful and absolute. Which of these do you experience most? In what practical ways can you encourage others from that? Which do you experience the least? What steps can you take to grow in that?
  6. TAKE ACTION: Where might you be wrong in my thinking about God? What steps can you take this week to fill your mind with more truth about who God says he is?